It’s not simply that Big Ben won’t give up on a play, rare as those occasions seem to be. Rather, it’s the way he fights on every down, no matter how bad the circumstances or the score that inspires teammates to go the extra inch. With all due respect to Al Pacino, we get what happens when you add up all those inches.

“It gives you a sense of belief that anything can happen at any given moment,” Vick said. “They know you’ve always got a chance. So it means a lot. It means a lot.”

Back to Vick, whose critics were clamoring for rookie Nick Foles to succeed him during the preseason.

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Vick was hurt, which has happened frequently in his tour with the Eagles. He makes a lot of money, hasn’t won a playoff game and in 2011, couldn’t get the Eagles into the playoffs.

This season Vick has thrown four touchdown passes and six interceptions, leaving him with a 72.7 passer rating.

The Eagles wouldn’t be 3-1 without him as he guided them to all of their wins with fourth-quarter comebacks.

Veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who went through more than a few quarterback controversies in Oakland, was surprised there was speculation that Foles, not Vick was better equipped to be the Eagles’ quarterback.

“You’re talking about a guy who has been a superstar in this league, that is a true game changer,” Asomugha said. “But you do want to have depth.”

Vick has 11 career 100-yard rushing games. Just two are with the Eagles. He’s thrown for 300 or more yards 10 times, seven with the Eagles.

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Roethlisberger is a safety’s worst nightmare when he breaks containment.

The defender doesn’t know whether to jump coverage and go get him or stay on his man.

“He can run it, too,” Eagles safety Nate Allen said. “You’ve just got to lock on and hope the rest of your guys, your D-linemen and your linebackers and whoever is in pursuit for the run, and you’ve just got to handle the passer.”

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The Steelers got some tough breaks and ran out of gas in a 34-31 loss to the Raiders on the West Coast.

Antonio Brown had a 73-yard punt return called back due to a penalty. It would have given them a 21-7 lead in the first half.

They also were without safety Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, who have made a combined 11 Pro Bowls. Both players are expected back Sunday.

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NOTES: Eagles are 2-1 when they win the coin toss, 1-0 when they lose it. … With four penalties, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (two illegal contact, one unnecessary roughness, one pass interference) is tied for the team lead with guard Evan Mathis. DRC leads the Eagles with three interceptions and seven passes defended. … Left guard Willie Colon leads the Steelers with four penalties (two hold, two false starts) … Ryan Clark got the Steelers’ only interception this season on Carson Palmer’s first throw of their game in Oakland. … The Eagles are 1-1 in their last two games officiated by referee Tony Corrente, whose crew has their game with the Steelers. … Jason Babin has a team-leading 2˝ of the Eagles’ 11 sacks. He has 7 sacks in his last four games versus AFC teams but no sacks of Roethlisberger. … Big Ben (27,483) needs 507 passing yards to pass Hall of Fame passer Terry Bradshaw (27,989) for the most in franchise history.